When having a colonoscopy, you typically need to stop eating solid foods one day before the procedure and follow a clear liquid diet. Exactly what's allowed on this diet can vary slightly from hospital to hospital, however, so check with your doctor when you schedule your procedure.

What's Allowed

On a clear liquid diet, you can typically drink most liquids that don't contain any particles of food or pulp. Good beverages to try include fruit-flavored drinks, clear broths, clear soda, sports drinks, coffee or tea without cream or milk, gelatin and certain fruit juices, including apple, white grape and white cranberry. You can add sweeteners to your beverages, such as honey or sugar. If you prefer something a bit more solid, flavored ices and ice pops are also OK as long as they don't contain bits of fruit or pulp. You can even suck on hard candies throughout the day. Drink beverages with calories as well as water and other calorie-free beverages. This isn't meant to be a starvation diet.

What's Not Allowed

Clear liquids can have some color to them, but many hospitals request you avoid those that contain orange, red or purple coloring. Only see-through liquids are allowed. Dairy products, nondairy creamers and alcohol are not. Also on the list of drinks to avoid are vegetable juice, orange juice and grapefruit juice.